Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing flows and connections between different entities or nodes in a system. This type of chart is named after Hugh S. Sankey, a 19th-century engineer who used them to illustrate the energy flows in steam engines. Sankey charts have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, thanks to their ability to convey complex information in a clear, intuitive way.
Creating a Sankey chart involves mapping out the flows and connections between different entities in a system. This can be done using data that includes the source, destination, and amount of flow between each pair of nodes. Once the data is in place, a Sankey chart can be created by connecting the nodes with arrows or bands, with the width of the bands representing the amount of flow between each pair of nodes. This makes it easy to see at a glance how much is being transferred from one node to another, and where the biggest flows are occurring.
One of the key benefits of Sankey charts is their ability to convey complex information in a clear, intuitive way. For example, let’s say you wanted to create a Sankey chart to visualize the flow of data between different departments in a large company. You could use the nodes to represent each department, and the arrows to represent the flow of data between them. By adjusting the width of the arrows, you could also show the relative amount of data flowing between each pair of departments. This would make it easy to see at a glance which departments are communicating most frequently, and which are communicating least.
Another benefit of Sankey charts is their ability to highlight the most significant flows in a system. For example, let’s say you were creating a Sankey chart to visualize the flow of traffic between different cities in a country. You could use the nodes to represent each city, and the arrows to represent the flow of traffic between them. By adjusting the width of the arrows, you could also show the relative volume of traffic flowing between each pair of cities. This would make it easy to see at a glance which routes are busiest, and which are the least-used.
Sankey charts are also useful for visualizing changes in flows over time. For example, if you wanted to create a Sankey chart to visualize the flow of money between different countries over the course of a decade, you could use the nodes to represent each country, and the arrows to represent the flow of money between them. You could then create multiple charts, each showing the flow of money between the same pairs of countries at different points in time. By comparing these charts, you could see how the flow of money between each pair of countries has changed over time.
Overall, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing flows and connections in a system. By mapping out these flows in a clear and intuitive way, they make it easy to understand how different entities are connected, and where the biggest flows are occurring. They can be used to visualize a wide range of systems, from the flow of traffic between cities to the flow of data between different departments in a company. Whether you’re working with a small dataset or a large one, Sankey charts are an excellent way to visualize and analyze the complex flows and connections in a system.

SankeyMaster

SankeyMaster is your go-to tool for creating complex Sankey charts . Easily enter data and create Sankey charts that accurately reveal intricate data relationships.